WO2021079035A1

WO2021079035A1 - Method for rendering content on a computer interface for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2021079035A1
Application number: PCT/FR2020/051594
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zineb Saadaoui; Yoann Leff; Berangere MESNIER; Marine Clatot; Rim Lahmar; Ihsen Boughaba
Original assignee: Psa Automobiles Sa
Priority date: 2019-10-21
Filing date: 2020-09-15
Publication date: 2021-04-29
Also published as: EP4048542A1; CN114585533A; FR3102329A1; FR3102329B1

Abstract

A method for managing content on a computer interface offering services (35) that are accessible via a multimedia system of a vehicle, the method comprising the following steps (S1, S2): - selecting a country (33) associated with said computer interface, from a plurality of countries (33) each comprising a set of services (35) to which access is authorized or prohibited, - loading, into the computer interface and for the selected country (33), access to all of the services (35) to which access is authorized.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Title of the invention: Method for restoring the contents of a computer interface for a vehicle

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates generally to the field of on-board multimedia systems in vehicles and relates in particular to a method of restitution, more broadly of management, of the contents of a computer interface offering services accessible by a multimedia system of a vehicle. The invention also relates to a multimedia system for implementing such a method as well as to a vehicle comprising such a multimedia system.

Providing applications or other services through a computer interface such as a web portal in a vehicle multimedia system is part of the services that can be expected from so-called connected vehicles. In order to be able to best adapt the content of such a computer interface to the varied preferences of the users of these vehicles, it becomes necessary to develop increasingly efficient multimedia systems.

PRIOR ART

[0003] Document WO201435434 describes a method of providing services in a unit of a vehicle, comprising the reception, by a server, of a request from a remote device (a mobile) from an authenticated user; the identification, by the server, of a remote vehicle unit associated with the request; and in response to the request, the server provides services or information in the vehicle unit based on the preferences of the authenticated user.

[0004] Document US2017126680 describes a vehicle-to-vehicle communication platform system with options for selecting activated or deactivated privacy modes which, respectively, prohibit or allow the vehicle to connect to telecommunications networks to transmit data to third parties. In addition, this system has the ability to manage user profiles with a backup of various privacy settings. These devices have various drawbacks including a lack of flexibility and efficiency existing for users of vehicles equipped with such devices, especially for users sharing their vehicle with other drivers or for users likely to adopt a nomadic behavior, for example by changing vehicles relatively frequently. This defect is felt in particular in the personalization of on-board multimedia systems in vehicles and in particular in the personalization of the contents of computer interfaces, such as computer portals or web portals, accessible via these multimedia systems.

[0006] In addition, on-board multimedia systems, in particular the computer interfaces of these systems, do not take into account the various regulations in force in different countries and which, according to national laws, prohibit access to certain content or types of contents that can be reproduced by multimedia systems through their computer interface.

[0007] By way of example, some countries such as Switzerland, Liechtenstein or Austria prohibit the use of applications intended to warn the driver of the location or of the imminent presence of a speed camera. National laws can even go so far as to make illegal the use of computer terminals which include as standard, in their memory, a database of speed cameras which have been banned.

[0008] As another example, we will cite the very restrictive restrictions applied for example in Turkey, Russia, Iran and in particular in China on many websites or applications such as Facebook ^® , Twitter ^® , Google ^® , Gmail ^® , Youtube ^® , Whatsapp ^® , Skype ^® , Snapchat ^® or Instagram ^® to name only the most famous.

[0009] As these services, applications, databases or web portals are commonly used in certain countries, it may appear very surprising for a user of a vehicle to learn that some of these services are prohibited. which he is in the habit of using fluently.

[0010] Consequently, there is an interest in finding an efficient and easy to implement solution, which has a universal aspect and makes it possible, at least in part, to resolve the aforementioned drawbacks. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the present invention relates in a first aspect to a method of managing the contents of a computer interface offering services accessible by a multimedia system of a vehicle, the method comprising the following steps:

- selection of a country associated with said computer interface, from among a plurality of countries each comprising a set of services to which access is authorized or prohibited,

- loading, in the computer interface and for the selected country, of the accesses to all the authorized access services.

Advantageously, thanks to the object of the present invention, the user of the vehicle can easily comply with national laws in the matter without worrying about what content is authorized and what content is not in the country qu 'he crosses or travels with his vehicle. In addition, this user does not have to worry either about the evolution of the prohibitions in force in these countries and in particular the updating of the list of illegal services in all these countries. User comfort and the experience he will derive from the on-board system in the vehicle will be advantageously improved.

In a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises a step of selecting a user profile, from among a plurality of user profiles each of which is associated with access to a set of personalized services, and the loading of the user. The set of services to which access is authorized is also limited to the set of personalized services associated with the selected user profile.

In one embodiment, the selection of said user profile is performed automatically in the case where the user is identified by means of an electronic device by means of an identifier with which said user profile is associated.

In another embodiment, the electronic device comprises a MAC address which constitutes the identifier of the user. Preferably, the automatic selection of the user's profile is done by recognition and automatic coupling of the electronic device to the multimedia system through a local communication network.

More preferably, the local network is a short-range communication network.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, said services are each made accessible by means of a URL associated with an icon selectable through the multimedia system.

In another embodiment, the step of selecting said country is performed after a step of verifying that no country has been previously selected.

In a second aspect, the invention also relates to a vehicle multimedia system for implementing the method according to any one of the embodiments of this method or according to any possible combination of these modes. production.

In a third aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle, preferably a motor vehicle, comprising a multimedia system for implementing the method according to any one of the embodiments of this method or according to one any possible combination of these embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0022] [Fig. 1] is a schematic illustration of the main devices and entities that may be involved in the method of the invention;

[0023] [Fig. 2] represents the main steps of the method of the present invention in the form of a block diagram;

[0024] [Fig. 3] represents a schematic example of the display of a set of services on an onboard multimedia system in the vehicle.

[0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] With reference to FIG. 1, this represents the main devices and entities intended to interact in the method of the present invention. These elements go all first be presented in detail so as to allow, subsequently, a better understanding of the process of the invention.

At the center of Fig. 1, we first notice a vehicle 50, preferably a motor vehicle, comprising a multimedia system 40 such as an infotainment console. Such a multimedia system 40 constitutes a communication platform or man-machine interface which typically comprises a display screen, preferably a touch screen. This multimedia system 40 is further configured to be able to display a computer interface 30, such as a computer portal or a web portal.

The vehicle 50 is intended to be occupied by a user 20, for example the driver or a passenger, who can be identified by means of an electronic device 25. This electronic device is preferably a portable device and can typically consist of a mobile phone or other communication terminal. The vehicle 50 can also be in communication, via at least one wireless communication network 55 with a remote server 60. The remote server 60 can be a management center, for example a management center of a fleet of vehicles 50. The wireless communication network 55 is preferably a mobile telephone network. A directory 62 of identifiers could be stored in this remote server 60.

The vehicle 50 and the remote server 60 can together constitute an entity which can be defined as "extended vehicle". This follows from the fact that the remote server 60, or management center, constitutes an invisible entity for the user 20, as does the wireless communication network 55 which connects them.

Each user 20 can be associated with a user profile 22 configured, at least in part, by the user himself. This user profile 22 is preferably stored in an extended memory of the vehicle, for example in a memory of the vehicle 50, in particular of the multimedia system 40, or in a database 65 of the remote server 60. Alternatively, the user profile could be stored in a memory of the electronic device 25 of the user.

A user profile comprises a set of data, in particular configuration parameters linked to the use of the vehicle 50, such as for example a pre-established list of preferred radio stations, seat adjustment data of the vehicle, of the adjustment data of one or more mirrors, etc. The data of a user profile 22 could also include a confidentiality mode 45 controlling the external transmission of the data, from the vehicle 50 to an accessible third party 70, at least in part, through the wireless communication network 55. The third party can typically be a provider of connected services, for example an Internet access provider.

The computer interface 30 or the multimedia system 40 could be configured to be able to operate in a confidentiality mode 45 of degree 43 selectable. By way of example, the following three degrees of confidentiality 43 could be selected by the user 20.

The first degree 43 is a maximum degree of confidentiality which blocks the external transmission of data to the wireless communication network 55. This degree corresponds to a so-called activated or "ON" confidentiality.

The second degree 43 is a degree of confidentiality which allows the external transmission of data to the wireless communication network 55. Preferably, this second degree of confidentiality allows any transmission without any restriction and, therefore, corresponds to a low degree of confidentiality, which can be qualified as deactivated or "OFF".

The third degree 43 is a hybrid or intermediate degree of confidentiality which allows any transmission of data to the wireless communication network 55, with the exception of geolocation data. Such geolocation data could be received by the vehicle 50, in particular by a receiver arranged in this vehicle, from a transmitter 80 which can typically be a satellite geolocation system.

In order to comply with the GDPR regulation (from the English General Data Protection Regulation or "General Data Protection Regulation"), the vehicle 50, or the electronic device 25 of the user 20, preferably uses by default the maximum confidentiality mode which is exclusive of a data sending, namely which excludes any sending of data through the wireless communication network 55 and more preferably through a local communication network 54 which can be established between user 20 and vehicle 50, plus precisely between the electronic device 25 of the user and the multimedia system 40 of this vehicle.

Different types of user profile 22 can be provided in the architecture illustrated in FIG. 1. By way of example, the following three user profiles could be provided.

The first type of user profile 22 could be a personal profile, preferably secure, requiring identification of the user 20 by means of his electronic device 25. The latter typically being an intelligent portable telephone, it therefore constitutes an object. personal that the user usually carries always or very often with him. This profile is typically identified by means of an identifier (U _ID - User Identifier) which is preferably associated with a pseudonym and, for example, with an avatar. The data contained in this first profile are private data, which can nevertheless be supplemented by public data if necessary. The private or public nature of a data can be imposed by the extended vehicle, for example by the management center and / or by the multimedia system 40 of the vehicle 50. The private data can be more or less sensitive personal data, such as only preferences or confidential or even secret data. Public data is little or no sensitive data which can therefore be shared, for example. Preferably, only sensitive data cannot be modified by third-party users. It should also be noted that this first profile could be an authenticated profile or require authentication in addition to the identification of the user 20.

The second type of user profile 22 could be a public profile, accessible by simple selection made by any user. As its name suggests, this second profile only contains little or no sensitive data, such as open access public data. The selection of this type of profile therefore does not require any authentication or identification by means of an ancillary device such as the electronic device 25. Preferably, this type of profile can be activated by a simple selection made by the user, typically from a list of available profiles that the multimedia system 40 can restore. Preferably, any user can modify the data or parameters of a user profile of this second type. The The modified data will thus remain stored in this profile until a new modification.

The third type of profile could be a so-called "guest" profile which comprises a set of parameters and / or data pre-established by the extended vehicle or by an entity of the extended vehicle. Being intended to be shared by any guest of the vehicle 50, this type of profile generates only one guest profile per extended vehicle. It is therefore not created by the user and, preferably, cannot be reproduced or duplicated. Any user nevertheless has the possibility of modifying the content of this profile, without however being able to change its name or its representation, via an avatar, an icon or a pictogram for example.

On the basis of this architecture, the method of the invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 which illustrate, respectively, the main steps of the method in the form of a functional diagram and a schematic example of the display, on the multimedia system 40, of a set of services offered by a web portal serving as a 'computer interface 30.

This method allows the management, in particular the reproduction, of the contents of a computer interface 30 offering services 35 accessible by a multimedia system 40 of a vehicle 50, namely by means of such a multimedia system. In the illustration given as an example in FIG. 3, the services 35 are seven in number and typically relate, to name but a few, to access to music, a road navigation system, a messaging service, a telephone service or a communication platform. entertainment such as the viewing of films.

These services may or may not be connected services. The connected services are identified in Fig. 3 by two chain links associated with the icons corresponding to these services. The unconnected services are typically services which do not necessarily have to call upon an external communication network, such as the wireless communication network 55 of FIG. 1, to receive or exchange data with a remote server. Each of these services, connected or not, is accessible by means of the multimedia system 40 illustrated in FIG. 1. The contents of the computer interface 30 (web portal for example) typically consist of the accesses (for example Internet addresses or other referral links) to the services 35 as well as by the icons with which these accesses are associated.

[0044] With particular reference to FIG. 2, the method comprises the following steps S1, S2:

- selection of a country 33 associated with the computer interface 30, from among a plurality of countries 33 comprising, for each, a set of services 35 whose access is authorized or prohibited (step S1),

loading, into the computer interface 30 and for the selected country 33, of the accesses to all the authorized access services 35 (step S2).

The set of selected countries 33 can be presented in the form of a list or directory 63 of countries. This directory could be a list that could be scrolled at will, as shown schematically in FIG. 2. Such a directory 63 could list the different countries 33 in alphabetical order or in another order which may be preferred by the user.

The step S1 of loading accesses to all the authorized access services can typically consist of making these accesses visible and selected on the screen of the multimedia device 40. Thus, this loading step can consist of l display of these accesses on the screen of the multimedia system, via the computer interface 30 which, typically, can be a web portal or any other computer portal. The loading step can for example use a memory of the multimedia system in which the appropriate accesses can be loaded.

The accesses to the different services 35 can be referrals, pointers or addresses, preferably unique, which allow the multimedia system 40 or its computer interface 30 to reach and launch the services associated with these accesses. For connected services, each of these accesses could be a web address, for example a URL (Uniform Resource Identifier).

Advantageously, the selection of the country 33 chosen by the user 20 is not dependent on a geolocation system, such as a geolocation system provided with 80 satellite transmitters. Indeed, when the user is typically a cross-border worker residing in one country and working in another, a selection associated with the geographical detection of the vehicle 50 by such a geolocation system would cause frequent changes to the contents of the computer interface 30. These frequent changes would then be sources of unwelcome disturbances for the user and would not facilitate his habituation to the contents of the computer interface.

Different categories of services 35 are illustrated as an example in FIG. 3. Some of these services 35 are public services 35 ′, namely standard or basic services accessible by any user if they have authorized access in the country concerned. Other services 35 are qualified as private services 35 "in the sense that they are specifically dedicated to a particular user 20, more precisely to the user for whom such services are specially associated with his user profile 22 while they are are not necessarily associated with other user profiles 22. Finally, it can also be noted that a last category refers to personalized services 35 '"which, typically, can include public services 35' and private services 35" , without however excluding a set comprising only private services 35 ".

In a preferred embodiment and illustrated in broken lines in FIG.

2, the method further comprises a step S3 of selecting a user profile 22, from among a plurality of user profiles each of which is associated with access to a set of personalized services 35 '". In addition, loading (for example the display) of all the services 35, access to which is authorized, is further limited (ie restricted) to the set of personalized services 35 ′ ″ associated with the user profile 22 selected (step S4). In other words, the display of the set of services 35 whose access is authorized is limited to the set of personalized services 35 ′ "of authorized access in the selected country 33. of the set of personalized services 35 '"so as to limit this set to only the services authorized in the country 33 selected. The application of such a filter can be obtained from a white list of authorized services or, conversely, from a black list of prohibited services in the selected country.

[0051] In FIG. 2, all the services 35 authorized in the selected country 33 are illustrated by a computer interface (web portal) on which a label illustrating the country in question has been affixed. The application of the aforementioned filter on this set of services is illustrated by the addition of a second tag representing the particular user in question. We will understand that we could also proceed differently while achieving the same result, for example by applying a filter "applications authorized in the selected country" to the personalized services 35 "'associated with the user profile 22 selected.

Because the set of services 35 authorized in the country concerned generally consists of public services 35 ', therefore the set of personalized services 35' "may include a set of authorized access public services.

In one embodiment, the selection of the user profile 22 in step S3 could be performed automatically, in the event that the user 20 could be identified through an electronic device 25 by means of a UID identifier with which the user profile is associated 22.

As a variant of this automatic selection, the selection of said user profile 22 (step S3) could be carried out manually from a list of user profiles 22 prerecorded. Such a list could typically be pre-recorded in a memory of the multimedia system 40. This list could also be duplicated and saved, via the wireless communication network 55, in a remote server, for example in the database 65 of the management center. 60

In addition to the embodiment preceding this variant, the selection of the user profile 22 could be carried out automatically after the expiration of a predetermined period during which the user profile 22 identified from a list of pre-registered user profiles could be highlighted. and manually selected.

In another embodiment, the selection of the user profile 22 could be done by automatic identification of the user 20 by means of the identifier stored in his electronic device 25 then by extraction of his user profile 22 stored in the electronic device 25. Thus, the user profile 22 could for example be stored in a memory of the electronic device 25, for example in a SIM card of this device, and transmitted via the local network 54 to the multimedia system 40.

Preferably, the identification of the user could be done, in the context of the automatic selection mentioned with reference to step S3, by means of the electronic device 25. In fact, the latter comprises in particular a address MAC (Media Access Control), which preferably constitutes the user's identifier. Advantageously, this physical address is a unique identifier which is physically stored in the electronic device, in particular in a network card of this device.

In one embodiment, the automatic selection of the profile of the user 22 is done by automatic recognition and coupling of the electronic device 25 to the multimedia system 40 through (namely through) the local network 54 Communication. This local network 54 could be a short-range communication network of the Bluetooth, Zigbee, NFC (Near Field Communication), Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) or LiFi (Light Fidelity), PC5, ITS or G5 type for example, or making call for any other communication protocol.

Preferably and as illustrated in FIG. 3, the services 35 are each made accessible by means of a URL associated with a selectable icon via the multimedia system 40. To do this, this multimedia system is preferably provided with a touch screen.

In another embodiment, the step S1 of selecting the country 33 could be carried out after a step of verifying that no country 33 has been previously selected. Indeed, once the country 33 has been selected by the user 20, it does not become necessary for the latter to proceed to a new selection of the country when the multimedia system 40 is restarted. It will therefore be understood that the method of the invention is preferably not implemented each time the multimedia system 40 is started, knowing that this system is generally configured to switch off when the vehicle's ignition is switched off, for example when the user leaves the vehicle. This method can be implemented when the vehicle 50 is used for the first time after leaving the factory and / or at the request of the user, typically by means of configuration parameters of the multimedia system 40 or of its computer interface 30.

Preferably, the selection of the country 33 is made after disclosure of a message 47 inviting the selection of a country 33 from among the plurality of available countries. This message, shown in Fig. 3, may be a visual and / or sound message, broadcast via the multimedia system 40. Preferably, it will be a visual message of the pop-up type, namely a message which disappears from itself. even at the expiration of a short time interval, typically of the order of a few seconds.

Other messages 47 could also be disclosed through the multimedia system 40, for example in the event of the absence of connection of the electronic device 25 to the local network 54 or of the absence of connection of the multimedia system 40 to the network. wireless communication system 55. Messages 47 warning of the risks incurred by driver distraction could also be disclosed.

In one embodiment, the access loads, whatever they may be, are preferably saved in the computer interface 30 or in the multimedia system 40 (via a memory dedicated for this purpose) as long as a new one. user profile 22 is not newly selected according to step S3.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the set of personalized services 35 '"is preferably displayed (arranged), in the computer interface 30, according to an arrangement which can be predefined by the user 20. In such an arrangement, the service 35 linked to the user. display of a "home page" is for example located at the top right of the display space of the computer interface 30, and is illustrated by an icon representing a house. Different preferences of organization or arrangement services 35 could be chosen by other users. Each provision defined by the user according to his preferences can be stored and associated for example with the profile of the user in question. various services 35 chosen by the user could be identified, for example, by a coordinate system linked to the display surface of the multimedia system 40 or of the computer interface 30.

Furthermore, the services 35 (public 35 ', private 35 ", personalized 35'") could be, at least in part, services requiring a connection to a remote server, such as that of the management center 60 and / or that of the service provider 70.

In one embodiment, the electronic device 25 could constitute a relay configured to allow an exchange of communications between the multimedia system 40 and at least one remote server, for example that of the management center 60 and / or that of the supplier. services 70. In this case, the communications exchanged could pass through the local network 54, between the multimedia system 40 and the electronic device 25, and through a wide area network such as the wireless communication network 55 between the electronic device 25 and the remote server in question.

It will also be noted that the management undertaken by the method of the invention is not limited to rendering the contents (such as computer applications for example) of the computer interface, but could also manage the organization of the display or even the updating of these contents, for example the updating of a catalog of services 35 (such as applications for example) constituting a set of services.

In a second aspect, the invention also relates to a multimedia system 40, vehicle, for implementing the method according to any one of the embodiments of this method or according to any possible combination of these embodiments or characteristics linked to the architecture of this method.

In a third aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle 50, preferably a motor vehicle, comprising a multimedia system 40 for implementing the method according to any one of the embodiments of this method or according to 'any possible combination of these embodiments or features related to the architecture of this method ^

Claims

[Claim 1] method of managing the contents of a computer interface (30) offering services (35) accessible by a multimedia system (40) of a vehicle (50), the method comprising the following steps (S1, S2) :

- selection of a country (33) associated with said computer interface (30), from among a plurality of countries (33) comprising, for each, a set of services (35) whose access is authorized or prohibited,

loading, in the computer interface (30) and for the country (33) selected, of the accesses to all the authorized access services (35).

[Claim 2] Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a step (S3) of selecting a user profile (22), from among a plurality of user profiles (2) with each of which is associated an access to a set of personalized services (35 '"), and in that the loading of the set of services (35) to which access is authorized is further limited to the set of personalized services (35'") associated with the user profile (22) selected.

[Claim 3] A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the selection of said user profile (22) is carried out automatically in the case where the user is identified by means of an electronic device (25) by means of an identifier (UID) with which said user profile (22) is associated.

[Claim 4] A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the electronic device (25) comprises a MAC address which constitutes the identifier (UID) of the user.

[Claim 5] Method according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the automatic selection of the user profile (22) is effected by recognition and automatic coupling of the electronic device (25) to the multimedia system (40) to the through a local communication network (54).

[Claim 6] A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the local area network (54) is a short range communication network.

[Claim 7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said services (35) are each made accessible by means of a URL associated with an icon selectable via the multimedia system (40).

[Claim 8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step (S1) of selecting said country (33) is carried out after a step of verifying that no country (33) has been previously selected. .

[Claim 9] A vehicle multimedia system (40) for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

[Claim 10] Vehicle (50), comprising a multimedia system (40) for implementing the method according to one of claims 1 to 8.!